Master's Program Review

University of Arizona Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business

M.S. program at University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, fully online. It ranks 41 of 49 online master's programs in our methodology.

Online Program Score

53.3

Ranks 41 of 49 at this level

Cost per Credit

$1,250

Online rate

Credits

30

Semester credits

Format

Fully Online

Verdict

Our Verdict on the M.S.

The University of Arizona's online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business is worth a look if you want a business-flavored AI degree in 12 months and you're open to a higher price. It's 30 credits at $1,250 per credit, which comes to $37,500. Its draw is the Eller College of Management setting.

This degree sits in the Eller College of Management, not a computer science department, and the program page highlights 35 years of AI leadership through the Eller MIS AI Lab. That framing tells you what you're buying: AI strategy, governance and business applications, not a heavy engineering curriculum.

It's a 12-month, fully online program. Admission is open to bachelor's holders in any field, which makes it one of the more accessible master's paths for career changers, though the entry requirements still ask for some preparation.

Online

The Online Format

The program is fully online and designed to finish in 12 months. That pace implies a steady course load throughout the year, so it fits a full-time student or a professional who can reduce other commitments.

Ask directly whether classes are live or asynchronous. Also ask how often the program starts a new cohort, since a 12-month timeline only works if you can begin when you're ready.

Time to Finish
12 months

Source: online.arizona.edu (format and schedule), verified September 30, 2026

Fit

Who Should Apply, and Who Should Not

Who It Fits

  • You work in business, management or information systems and want to lead AI projects, not write the models yourself.
  • You're changing careers. A bachelor's degree in any field qualifies you to apply.
  • You want a fast finish. The program is built as a 12-month, fully online path.
  • You want a recognized public university with a management school behind the degree.

Who Should Skip It

  • You want the lowest price. At $37,500 for 30 credits, this costs far more than some online AI master's programs on our list.
  • You want a deeply technical engineering degree. This one leans toward business use of AI.
  • You don't meet the admission requirements and don't want to prepare for them. The program asks for a 3.0 GPA, an entry test and six credit hours of business coursework.

Curriculum

What You Will Study

The degree requires 30 credit hours. Courses listed on the program page include MIS 545: Data Mining and Machine Learning, Introduction to Deep Learning, Policy and Ethics of AI for Business, AI for Cybersecurity, Generative AI for Business and Big Data Technologies.

That mix puts technical topics next to policy and business ones. You'll touch machine learning and deep learning, but the program's strength is applying AI inside an organization. Ask to see the full course sequence and which classes are required versus elective.

Courses the School Names

  • Data Mining and Machine Learning
  • Introduction to Deep Learning
  • Policy and Ethics of AI for Business
  • AI for Cybersecurity
  • Generative AI for Business
  • Big Data Technologies

Standout Features

  • Anchored by the top-ranked Management Information Systems department in the Eller College of Management
  • Courses on AI ethics, policy and governance alongside machine learning and generative AI
  • Hands-on projects building solutions to organizational challenges
  • Housed in the Eller College of Management, with 35 years of AI leadership through the Eller MIS AI Lab
Labs and Partnerships
Named in the school's program materials

Source: online.arizona.edu (curriculum and experience), verified September 30, 2026

Cost

How Much It Costs at $1,250 a Credit

Arizona lists a flat $1,250 per credit. Over 30 credits, the tuition comes to $37,500. That is a high price for a 12-month degree, so weigh it against the Eller name.

The flat rate is easy to plan around. Ask about fees beyond tuition, and ask whether the six credit hours of business or foundational coursework required for admission would be an added cost if you need to take them first.

30 credits at $1,250 a credit comes to $37,500 in tuition, before fees.

Cost per Credit
$1,250 per credit
Credits Required
30 credits
Estimated Tuition
$37,500
Military Benefits
Accepts the Post-9/11 GI Bill including the Yellow Ribbon Program; the $250-per-credit Tuition Assistance rate applies to undergraduate programs only, not graduate degrees.
Fees and Notes
Flat $1,250 per credit as listed in the program quick facts.

Source: online.arizona.edu (cost and aid), verified September 30, 2026

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements
Bachelor's degree in any field; minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; entry test covering statistics, Python and SQL; six credit hours of business or foundational business coursework.

Sources: online.arizona.edu (admissions and transfer), online.arizona.edu (admissions and transfer), verified September 30, 2026

Credentials

Accreditation and Where It Leads

You earn a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business from the University of Arizona, a public university. Federal IPEDS data lists about 56,365 students, an 86% admit rate and a 68% overall graduation rate.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in any field, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, an entry test covering statistics, Python and SQL, and six credit hours of business or foundational business coursework. This is an academic credential. Our wage data lists a field median of $137,740, which isn't a program outcome.

Where this degree can lead: Data Scientist Jobs, Jobs You Can Get With an AI Degree.

Score

Where It Loses Points

Each factor is scored 0 to 10 against other online master's programs. The weights are the same for every program, and the overall score is relative to the top online master's program, which scores 100.

  • Cost30% of score 2.6 / 10

    $1,250 per credit

  • Outcomes25% of score 3.5 / 10

    68% of students graduate (school-wide, IPEDS)

  • Online Flexibility20% of score 6 / 10

    Fully online

  • Program Depth10% of score 4 / 10

    4 standout features, named labs or partnerships

  • Track Record15% of score 5.1 / 10

    68 Master's completions a year in this field (IPEDS)

Online Program Score 53.3 / 100

Darker bars mean stronger factor scores. Every bar also shows its number.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Trade-Offs

Drawbacks to Weigh

  • At $37,500 for 30 credits, it is a high price for an online AI master's.
  • The entry requirements are real work if you come from outside business or tech: a 3.0 GPA, a test covering statistics, Python and SQL, and six credit hours of business coursework.
  • A 12-month pace is demanding. Ask how much weekly time each course expects.
  • It's a business AI degree, so it covers less engineering depth than a computer science master's.

Before You Apply

Questions to Ask University of Arizona Before You Apply

  • How is the entry test scored, and can I prepare for the statistics, Python and SQL sections?
  • If I lack six credit hours of business coursework, where can I take them and what do they cost?
  • How many hours per week should I expect across a 12-month schedule?
  • Are classes live or asynchronous, and when does the next cohort start?
  • What fees come on top of the $1,250 per credit tuition?
  • How do graduates use the degree in roles outside of data science, and what career support does Eller offer online students?

School

About University of Arizona

Degree
M.S., Master's
School
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Institution Type
Public
Delivery
Fully Online

Source: online.arizona.edu (program and school), verified September 30, 2026

Graduation Rate
68%
Admit Rate
86%
Total Enrollment
56,365
Master's Completions a Year in This Field
68
Campus Setting
City

Source: nces.ed.gov (school data from ipeds), verified September 30, 2026

Rankings

Rankings This Program Appears In

Rank is the program's position among the online programs on that list at its degree level.

Compare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of Arizona's Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business a Good Program?

How Much Does the Arizona AI for Business Master's Cost?

How Long Does the Program Take?

What Are the Admission Requirements?

How Does Its Price Compare?

Sources

All sources retrieved .